Gun rifling machine



June 1, '1943. ,nh- RA|CHE 2,320,750

GUN RIFLING MACHINE Filed May 16, 1941v 3 Sheets-Sheet l o i I' n QD IH J INVENTOR. /V//Oaw/jaw/ ATTORNEYS.

June 1, 1943. A 'RMCHE 2,320,750

GUN RIFLING MACHINE l A TTOIQNEYS.

June L 1943.

A.y RAlcHE 2,320,750

GUN RIFLING MACHINE Filed May l, 1941 s sheets-sheet 3 IEEEEE A TTORNEYS.

Patented June 1, 1943 UNITED STATES/'ATENT OFFICE GUN -RIFLING MACHINE Andrew Raiche, Providence, R. I.

Application May 16, 1941, Serial No. 393,800

13 Claims. (Cl. S30-28.1)

This invention relates to a machine for rifling the barrel of a gun.

The usual manner of riing a gun consists in forcing the helical cutting tool through the barrel by means of a ram rod with difticulty being experienced in the removal of the chips which are cut by the action of the rifling tool. The rod which is utilized for ramming the tool through the barrel is of considerable length and force to be applied by transmission through this long rod is at times unsatisfactory.

One of the objects of this invention is to provide a machine whereby the long ram rod to the riing tool is eliminated and force is lapplied directly to the tool.

Another object of the Vinvention is to reduce the resist-ance which chips of considerable size have to the movement of a riiiing cutter through a rie barrel. l y

Another object of the invention is to provide an arrangement whereby the chip which Vis formed by the cutter is more readily cleared and removed from the barrel.

Another and more specic object of the inven-4 tion is to reduce the chip which is formed` into small parts and Wash the chip out of the barrel ahead of the cutter.

Another object of the `invention is to provide an arrangement whereby hydraulic means' may be utilized for forcing the cutter through the barrel to be ried. f

With these and other objects in View, the invention consists of certain novel features of, construction, as will be more fully described, and particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings: i

Fig. 1 is a side elevation illustrating the com'-` plete machine;

Fig. 2 is a plan view thereof;

Fig. 3 is a side View, partly in section, illustrating the clearing tool;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view illustrating a portion of the barrel, the cutter and clearing tools therein, and the cylinder for the transmission of hydraulic power;

Fig. 5 is a sectional view illustrating a means for moving the hydraulic plunger;

Fig. 6 is an elevation of the cutter;

Fig. 7 is a sectional View of the nut for engaging the threaded portion of the hydraulic plunger;

Fig. 8 is a fragmental detail, partly in section, illustrating the connection of the retracting handle for the hydraulic plunger;

Fig. 9 is an enlarged detail, illustrating the' shaping of the cutter and clearing tool in their relation one part to the other;

Fig. 10 is a modied arrangement of means for actuating the rifling tool. Y

In proceeding with this invention, I provide a short, helical cutting tool or broach and force this tool hydraulically through the borev of the rifle for cutting a helical groove therein, thus eliminating the use of a long ram rod for this purpose. The chips which are cut in forming the groove in the barrel are broken into small parts by a rotary clearing tool which engages the leading end of the cutting tool and are forced by the cutting tool ahead of them as the cutting tool proceeds through the bore of the barrel. This clearing tool is hollow with clearance back of its end portion so that liquid may be forced through the tool and will wash the broken-up chips with the liquid outof the end of the barrelv intova suitable container. Thus, the resistance that the chips form to the cutting is materially reduced. Y v Y With reference to the drawings, I'Il designates the bed plate of the machine upon which the several parts of the machine are mounted, including several supporting standards. The standard II is secured to the bed plate intermediate the ends thereof and consists of a casting providing a cylinder I2 which has an end plate I3 bolted thereto and provided with a boss I4 threaded as at I5 for the reception of the barrel I 6 of a gun threaded vas at I'I and engaging the threads I5 of the boss I4. A piston 2'0 inthe cylinder I2 extends through the packing gland 2I of the cylinder I2 and through the bearing portion 22 (Fig. 5) of the standard 23 and also through the threaded jaws 24 and 25 (see Figs. 5 and 7) carried by this standard. Both of the jaws 24 are pivoted as at 26 on the standard and may be swung to and from engaging position by means of handle 21 pivoted as at 28 and having a slot and pin connection 28. The jaws are limited in `open movement by stop pins 24 and 25'.

The piston 20 is reduced to provide a rod as at 33 at the portion which extends-*through the bearing 2| and is threaded as at Y3| for the eX- tent necessary for its stroke. The jaws 24 and 25 are threaded to act asav nut and will engage or 'dsengage this threaded portion 3l. The p0r` tion 3I extends through another standard 32 which provides a support for one of the thrust ball bearings 34 of gear 33 which engages with a second thrust ball fbearing 35 at the other side of the gear. A key 36 carried by gear 33 eX- tends into the keyway 31 in the threaded portion 3|. Rotation is imparted to the plunger rod 30 by this gear 33 which is driven as seen more clearly in Fig. 2 by pinion 38 rotated through shaft 39 by worm gear 40 which is turned by worm 4|, shaft 42, pulley 43, belt 44, pulley 45, and electrical motor 46 mounted upon the bed |0. The end of the plunger designated 41 is free from threads and is reduced as at 48 (Fig. 8) to receive a collar 49 held in place through washer 50 and nut 5| on threaded stud 52. This collar is provided with a pin 53 extending therefrom to enter a slot 54 in the handle lever 55 pivoted at 56 on standard 51 rising from the bed |0 of the machine.

The rifling tool shown in Fig. 6 by itself is designated generally 60 and consists of shank portion 6| and a cutting head 62 provided with helical channels 83 with cutting edges and a recess 64 at its end. In use, a tapered bushing 85 is positioned in the end of the barrel I6, which bushing has a cylindrical bore to snugly receive the shank 8| ofthe cutter. The bushing is recessed as at 66 inorder to obtain a grip on it forA removal. .Some liquid, such as oil, is contained in the bore 61 of the cylinder |2 and may be supplied or drawn from this chamber 61 through the threaded opening 08 to which the conduit pipe .is attached, which vaffords a means for supplying fluid to the chamber or withdrawing it from the chamber during time of changing work from a completed barrel to a fresh one. In operation after the barrel is screwed into the boss I4 of the plate |3, I cause engagement of the jaws 24 and 25 with the threaded portion of the plunger and then by rotating this plunger through operation of the motor 46 the piston is fed` forwardly to force the cutter80ahead of it. Upon completion of the stroke with.the cutter, the plunger is withdrawn by releasing the jaws 24 and 25 through handle 21 and withdrawing the plunger by means of the handle 55.

In some cases, instead of the arrangement shownin Fig. 4, I may provide a block (see Fig. 10) having a chamber |02 therein with a boreV |03 f or the reception of the riing cutting tool 80. The'gun barrel I6 is threaded into the block at |04 toforma tight i'lt therewith. An entrance opening is threaded and provides access for placing the rifling tool 60 into the bore |03. Plug |08 is threaded into thisv opening |05 to close the same and is provided with threaded stud |01 through a threaded bore |08 in the plug |08. A squared head |09 is used for turning the threaded stud for initial engagement with the rifling cutter 80 so as to mechanically start its cutting in the bore of the barrel. After starting the rifling tool mechanically, I then withdraw the stud and ll the chamber |02 with liquid and by applying pressure to the supply of liquid through conduit ||0 controlled by valve I may force the rifllng tool hydraulically through the bore of the barrel to provide helical grooves therein.

In order to break up the material cut in forming the grooves by the rifling tool as the cutter advances and which is sometimes helical in formation and of substantial length, I provide a clearing tool, designated generally 10 (Fig. 3). consisting of a tubular shank portion 1| and a head 12. The shank portion has a bore 13 which communicates with the helically arranged Slots 14 of the head by means of opening 15 and through the endv of the head by openings 16.

The forward edges of these helical slots 14 are sharpened to present cutting edges.

The shank is mounted in a standard 11 by means of sealing rings 18 of such material as neoprene or the like. An annular recess 19 provides a chamber for the reception of fluid through connection and some flexible suppl;r line 8| threaded into the recess 82 which communicates with this chamber 19. An opening 8,3 in the shank forms communication between the 'bore 13 and chamber 19. This standard 11 is mounted upon a slidable carriage 84 arranged with suitable gibs on the slide 84 for sliding movement parallel to the movement of the plunger 20. This carriage is urged toward the work by means of a weight 85 and cord 88 directed over pulley 81 and engaging the carriage as at 88. A latch 80 serves to hold the carriage in retracted position during loading of the work into the machine. The shank 1| of the clearing tool is slidable through spaced bearings which are fixed to the slide 84';` and between these spaced bearings there is a pulley 9| which is keyed in a slot 92 of the shank so that upon rotation of the pulley 9| by means of belt 93, pulley 94, and electrical motor 95 on the bed plate |0, the clearing tool will be rotated.

After the work is loaded into the machine and prior to advancing of the broaching riing tool 60, the carriage carrying the clearing tool is allowed to move to the right, as shown in Figs. l and 2, so that the head 12 of the clearing tool will-,enter the bore of the barrel and its end 12 will enter the recess 64 in the cutter, the weight 85 serving to maintain the clearing tool in this engagement. The flexible pipe 8|v is sufficiently flexibleso as to supply liquid wash through the channels mentioned to the clearer tool during the full length of reciprocation ofthe carriage by'a pump, while the hydraulic means are used to force the cutter through the bore of the barrel to cause the rifling thereof. Y As the ship is formed by the cutter 60, the chip is broken into small parts by the rotation ofthe clearing tool 1,0. The ne chips are washed toward the end 98 of the barrel by the solution passed through the clearer tool and are collected in some suitable container. This washing solution may be utilized over again by removing the chips which it washes from the formation of the helical groove in the barrel.

By this arrangement the resistance to the forward movement of the cutter is materially reduced. The chip (see Fig. 9) designated generally 99 is broken or cut frequently so as to relieve the cutting edges |00 of the cutting tool as it advances, these chips being washed rearwardly through the channels 14 of the clearing tool.

I claim:

1. The combination with a rifling tool for cutting channels in the walls of a bore with the cutting portion of the tool being provided with spaced cutting edges, of fluid means for forcing said tool through the said bore, a clearing tool adapted to be positioned adjacent the said cutting portion and operable for severing the material raised from the walls of the bore by the-said riiling tool during the yadvance thereof in forming cutting channels in the walls of the bore and means for actuating said clearing tool simultaneously with the actuation of said rifling tool.

2. In combination with a riiling tool, hydraulic means for forcing said rifling toolthrough the bore of the gun barrel to -be riled, means for seveling the material raised from the walls of said bore by said rifling tool adjacent to the cutting edge of the tool during the advance of said tool in the said bore comprising a clearing tool adapted to be positioned adjacent a cutting portion of said rifling tool to engage the said material as raised, and fluid means for removing the said severed material from the said walls.

3. A rifling machine comprising a support having means thereon for securing a gun barrel in position to be rifled, a rifling tool positioned in the gun barrel, a cylinder having an opening therein communicating with the bore of said gun barrel, fluid means in said cylinder and in said gun barrel engaging said tool for transmitting a force applied thereto to said tool, said tool having a shank which is substantially equal in dimension to said bore, and means for severing the material raised from the stock of the gun barrel being rifled.

4. A rifling machine comprising a support having means thereon for securing a gun barrel in position to be rifled, a rifling tool positioned in the gun barrel, a cylinder having an opening therein communicating with the bore of said gun barrel, fluid means in said cylinder and in said gun barrel engaging said tool for transmitting a force applied thereto to said tool, said tool having a shank which is substantially equal in dimension to said bore, means for severing the material raised from the stock of the gun barrel being ried, and uid means for removing said material from the said bore as severed from the stock of the gun barrel.

5. A riing machine comprising a support having means thereon for securing a gun barrel in position to be rifled, a rifling tool having means thereon capable of cutting spiral channels in the walls of said bore, means for forcing said tool through the bore of said gun barrel, and means for severing the material raised from the stock of the Walls as the said riing tool is advanced in the said bore, comprising a rotatably mounted cutting tool of a size to be received in the said bore and with the cutting portion thereof positioned in juxtaposition to the cutting portion of said rifling tool, and means for maintaining said relationship between the cutting portion of said tools during the advance of the rifling tool through through said bore.

6. A rifling machine comprising a support having means thereon for securing a gun barrel in position to be ried, a riing tool having means thereon capable of cuttingr helical channels in the walls of said bore, means for forcing said tool through the bore of said gun barrel, means for severing the material raised from the stock of the walls during the advance of said rifling tool in the said bore, comprising a rotatably mounted cutting tool of a size to be received in the said bore and with the cutting portion thereof in juxtaposition to the cutting portion of said riflin-g tool, means for maintaining said relationship between the cutting portion of said tools during the advance of the riling tool through said bore, and grooves on the periphery of said cutting tool of a size to permit the passage of the said severed material.

7. A rifling machine comprising a support having means thereon 'for securing a gun rbarrel in position to be ried, a riing tool having means thereon capable of cutting helical channels in the Walls of said bore, means for forcing said tool through the bore of said gun barrel, a cutting tool rotatably mounted and of a size to be received in the said bore and with :the cutting portion thereof in juxtaposition to the cutting portion of said rifling tool for severing the material raised from the stock of the walls of the said bore by said rifling tool during the advance .thereof in said bore, means for maintaining said relationship between the cutting portions of said tools, said cutting tool having grooves in the periphery thereof of a size to permit the passage of the said severed material and a bore extending therethrough the passage of a fluid therein for lubricating the cutting portions of said tools and for flushing said portions of the said material as severed by said cutting tool 8. A rifling machine comprising a support having means thereon for securing a gun barrel in position to be rifled, a riiling tool having means thereon capable of cutting helical channels in the walls of said bore, hydraulic means for forcing said tool through the bore of said gun barrel, and means for severing the material raised from the stock of the walls during the advance of said rifling tool in the said bore, comprising a rotatably mounted cutting tool of a size to be received in :the said bore and with the cutting portion thereof in juxtaposition to the cutting portion of said riing tool, and means for maintaining said relationship between the cutting portion of said tools during the advance of the rifling :tool through said bore.

9. A rin-ing machine comprising a support having means thereon for securing a gun barrel in position to be rifled, a rifling tool having means thereon capable of cutting helical channels in the walls of said bore, hydraulic means for forcing a rifling tool through the bore of said gun barrel, a cutting tool rotatably mounted and of a size to be received in the said bore and with the cutting portion thereof in juxtaposition to the cutting portion of said rifling tool for severing :the material raised from the stock of the walls of the said bore by said rifling tool during the advance thereof in said bore, means for maintaining said relationship between the cutting portions of said tools, said cutting tool having grooves on the periphery thereof of a size to permit the passage of the said severed material and a bore extending therethrough for the passage of a fluid therein for lubricating the cutting portions of said tools and for flushing said bore of the said material as severed by said cutting tool.

10. In a riing machine a rifling tool, means for vforcing said tool through the gun barrel to be ried, severing means positioned in the bore of said gun `barrel in close proximity to the cutting portion of the sai-d rifling tool, for severing the material raised from the wall of the said bore by the rifling tool during the advance thereof in said bore, and means for maintain-ing the said relationship between the said severing means and the rifling tool `during the rifling of said gun barrel.

11. A rifling machine comprising a support having means thereon for securing agun barrel in position to be ried, a rifling tool the shank of which is substantially equal in dimension to the bore of the gun barrel being rifled, a cylinder having an opening therein communicating with the bore of said gun barrel, a fluid means in said cylinder engaging said rifling tool for transmitting a force applied thereto to said tool, a plunger in said cylinder movable therein for transmitting a force applied thereto to move thefluid through the said bore to force said rifling tool through the bore of the gun barrel.

l2. In a rifling machine the combination with a rflng tool, the cutting portion of which is located at one end extremity thereof, of a rotary cutting tool adapted to be positioned in the -bore of the gun to be ried at a location in advance of the rifiing tool and lclosely adjacent to the cutting edge of the rifling tool and operable for severing the material raised from the Walls of the bore during the cutting ofl the channels therein by the riing tool.

13. In a riing machine, a tool adapted to he positioned in a bore, said tool having a shank and means thereon for cutting channels in the 10 tool through said bore.

ANDREW RAICHE. 

